Apparatus for measuring boots and shoes.



J. H. MEACHAM.

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.18, 1907.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE,

JOHN H. MEACHAM, OF HAVERI-IILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 18, 1907.

To all whom, it may concern:

lie it known that 1, JOHN H. Mnaoiixlu, a citizen of the United States, residing at liaverhill, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of lilassaehusetts, have invented certain improvements in Apparatus for illeasuring Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the a(:companying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to measuring instruments, and more particularly to apparatus for measuring boots and shoes.

in the manuil acl'ure oi shoes having toe tips, it is usually necessary to measure the leugtlii of such tips to facilitate matching a right shoe with a left shoe to constitute a well-n'iated pair of shoes.

it is an object of this invention to enable the measuring and matching operation to be performed more quickly and accurately than heretofore, also preferably to measure both the length and the alinement of the toe tip, and more specifically to measure two shoes of a proposed pair at once.

lvlatching an appropriate right shoe with an appropriate left shoe to constitute a pair of shoes, which includes the tip measuring operation, is usually performed immediately alter the pulling over operation. Ilereto :lore such tip measuring has been done in arious ways, the operator frequently rely- Eng upon the accuracy of his eye, or utilizing a scale in some manner. Ordinarily the operator picks up one shoe, holding it in his left hand, and holding a small scale, manufactured for the purpose, in his right hand, u'ieasures the length of tip by rocking the scale from approximately the center of the toe back along the curved length of the tip. it a left shoe, for example, has been first measured, the operator then measures the lengths of tips on successive right shoes of the same size until one is found to corre spend with the left previously measured and both are suitable to match as a pair. This measuring and matching operation is of rat importance, and it is a usual rule in shoe factories that the lengths of toe tips upon each shoe of a pair shall be within one-sixteenth of an inch of each other. The me hods heretofore used, however, admit of great inaccuracy, much more than the customary one-sixteenth of an inch allowance, and all such methods have proven slow and unsatislactm'y in practice.

It an important feature of this invention to provide means whereby the tip measuring operation can be performed quicldy, without skill, with perfect acci'lracy, and by one hand of the operator.

It is also one oi the objects of the invention to provide an apparatus whereby a plu rality of shoes can be measured at one and the same operation, and in the same time required for the measl'irement of one shoe. In the form herein shown this object is readily accomplished for two shoes, but it is within the scope of the invention to measure any number of shoes, or pairs of shoes, at one operation.

It is also an important 'lieature oi this invention to measure the aliuement of the tip seam. This seam, uniting the tip to the vamp, may be in a straight line across the shoe, or may be pulled over at an inclination either to the right or left of such line, depending upon the style of last. llereloiore there have been no means of measuring either the degree of inclination or the accuracy of the alinement of an inclined tip seam, except by slow and numerous measiu'ements by hand. The present invention comprises means for measuring the alinement of a tip seam whether straight or inclined across the last. As herein shown the apparatus comprises means for making such measurements upon two shoes at a time, in addition to the mmisuremenls or lengths of tips above mentioned, and both devices are actuated by the same means and at the same movement.

It is a further object ol. this invention to provide means having ca amity 'lor measuring a wide range of dill'erent sixes, s'yles, and illlllGlDOlllS, without adjustments ot the measuring devices. Thus in the preferred embodiment of the invention herein shown, an entire series of mens sizes could be measured without readjustiug the devices. Thou upon adjusting for womens shoes, an entire series of womens sizes could be measured. This construction assists very materially in the rapidity with which the mono uriug operation can be performed, as heretofore u'ieasuring devices required adjustment to each shoe measured.

The use of this apparatus is not limited to the first measuring and matching operation above described, as it is also available for use at other stages in the manufacture of boots and shoes. For example, in shoe factories, a pair of shoes will frequently become separated. One shoe of a pair may be damaged and discarded, or one may be lost during the various processes of manufacture. These odd shoes are measured and rematched in the finishing or packing room of the factory, and this apparatus can be advantageously used in such operation.

The scope of the invention and the various features thereof are to be ascertained from the claims at the end of the following description of the illustrated apparatus.

Tn the drawing is shown a preferred em bodiment of my invention, adapted for measuring the length of tips and alinement of tip seams upon two shoes at one operation.

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the ap para-tus and table therefor. Fig. is an underneath view of the mecaanism, she. a fragment only of the table and par-tit Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the dotted line 8-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. t illustrates a modification of the gages.

The apparatus is conveniently mutated in connection with a table 1. The upper surface of the table is divided into right and left sides by the vertical partition 2 and an end piece 3 is secured to the partition 2 and serves as a stop for the abutting toes of shoes to be measured or matched.

The movable portion of the device comprises a central bar 5 connected with two cross bars 7 and 20, and upon these cross bars are attached heel'and toe measuring gages, with adjusting means therefor. The bar 5 is placed underneath the table 1 and parallel with the partition 2, and it is rigid at its rear end with a vertical pin 9, said pin being arranged to support the bar 5 and to slide in perforations provided therefor in the partition 2 and the lower portion of the table 1, as shown in Fig. 2. A spring 10 bearing upon the table 1 and against the lower side of bar 5 encircles a portion of the lower part of the pin 9 and is coiled to exert an expansive force, sutlicient to maintain the bar 5 and its attachments in extreme raised position with the bar 5 in contact with the overhanging rear portion of the partition 2.

Upon the rear cross piece 7 are right and left heel plates 12, 12, disposed on right and left sides respectively of the partition 2. Each heel plate is intended as a rest for the heel of a shoe to be measured, and has an upward extension 11 to contact with the inner side of the shoe. The heel plates are arranged to slide upon the right and left arms respectively of the cross piece 7, and can be adjusted lengthwise of said cross piece. A scale may be out upon the cross piece to show the amount of such heel plate ad ustment. Simultaneous movement and equal adjustment of these heel plates are obtained by the right and left screw 16 passing through threaded lugs 13 on each plate. Said screw is operated by the thumb nut 15 keyed thereto and this thumb nut is held between the bifurcated extension 6 of the bar 5, as shown in the drawing.

The forward cross piece 20 is slidingly mounted upon the bar 5 and is secured in desired longitudinal position thereon by means of a spring-pressed bolt 22, arranged to register with notches 23 in the bar 5, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 3. Blocks 25 are constructed to slide upon the cross piece 20, and are simultaneously adjusted by means of the right and left screw 27, passing through threaded holes inlugs 26 formed integral with the blocks 25. 29 is provided to rotate the screw. Screw 27 is supported by lugs 28, 28 on the cross piece 20, and a rigid collar 30 arranged between said lugs maintains it in position.

A vertical post 32 is supported by each sliding block 25 and extends upward through open spaces in the table 1, said openings being of sufiicient area to permit movement of the post during adjustment of V blocks 25 and cross piece 20. A central vertical post 33, mounted directly on the cross piece 20, extends upwardly through a slot 85 in the partition 2. Secured by a set screw to the upper part of each vertical post is a block 36. These blocks 36 are considerably above the table 1, and rods 38 depend from and are held by said blocks 36, each rod 38 carrying a gage 40. The post 83 by reason of its position can conveniently carry two rods 38 and 1-0. The rods 38 are constructed to slide through holes in their respective blocks 86, but a bur or flange on the top of the rods prevents them from Sljldr ing too far downwardly. The gages d0 are suitable to cont-act with the upper of a shoe at or about the tip seam, and are of appropriate length to cover a considerable range, as shown.

Tn operating the apparatus, the heel plates may be first adjusted by appropriate manipulation of the thumb nut 15, rotating the right and left screw 16 until the desired position of the heel. plate 12, 12 as shown by the scales on the cross piece '7 is reached. A. considerable range in adjustment is requisite because of the differences in styles of lasts. A shoe to be measured, if it be a right shoe forexample, is positioned to the right of the partition 2, with its toe against the stop 3, the side of the heel against the heel side gage 11 and the tread face of the heel upon the heel plate 12. A right shoe, so positioned, is shown in outline in Fig. 1. The operator, without releasing his hold upon the shoe and, if desired, as he positions it, may operate the mechanism by simply pressing downwardly upon the heel part of the shoe. The heel plate 12 and bar be ing yieldingly sustained by the spring readily yield to downward pressure, carrying down also the cross piece and the posts 32 and 33. Such downward movement it is intended shall continue until the gages 40 contact with the upper side of the shoe at or about the tip seam. The gages 40 then rest upon the shoe and the posts 38 attached thereto are stopped and are con structed to slide through the blocks 36 should the downward movement of the bar 5 and consequent movement of blocks 36 be continued. As the gages 4L0 positively contact with the tip seam on each side of the shoe, the operator can accurately and instantly note the length of tip as thus measured, observing in which notch the spring bolt 22 may then be fast, and also can note the alinement of the tip seam from one gage to the other. It is also feasible to measure the alinement of the tip seam by setting the heel plate 12 outwardly or inwardly and thus swinging the toe of the shoe relatively, this setting of the heel plate being in addition to the adjustment of the heel plate for style of last. It will be noted that the tip measuring gages permit a considerable scope in measurements for length, width and alinement without readjustment. In measuring two shoes at once, for a pair of shoes or otherwise, the same operation suffices to measure both shoes. The operator, having positioned two shoes can measure both by depressing the rear portion of either shoe, or by bearing downward sufficiently on the thumb nut 15, blocks 36 or other portions of the mechanism. Upon releasing the downward pressure, the spring 10 elevates the mechanism with the shoe or shoes thereon into normal raised position. This return movement lifts the gages 4-0 from contact with the shoe, through the rods 38 as the blocks 36 being lifted catching the bur or shoulder formed on the top of rods 38. The shoe can then be removed without scraping the gages or scratching the upper.

Although the foregoing is the preferred mode of operation it is within the scope of this invention and it is feasible in using the device herein shown, as in measuring a large boot or shoe, to push the shoe into position and have its upper contact with the gages 4L0, without requiring any depression of the mechanism. Such gages are free to rise as the shoe is pushed forward and thus will show the measuren'ients desired the instant the shoe is positioned and without any further operation. Should this mode of operation be practised, it might be desirable to form the gages as illustrated in Fi 41;, the gages 40' having a beveled edge or a turned-up lip to facilitate the movement of the shoe in sliding under the gage and lifting the latter. In the n-eferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is found more desirable to operate the gages by a s-zeparate movement, rather than by merely wedging the shoe.

l laving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In an apparatus of the character described, yielding means to support a shoe to be measured, and a gage arranged for yielding contact with said shoe.

2. In an apparatus of the clniractcr described, yielding means to hold a pair of shoes, and mechanism to measure the lengths of toe tips on both shoes simultaneously.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, yielding means to hold a pair of shoes, and mechanism to measure the alinement of tip seams on both shoes simultaneously.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, gages arranged for yielding contact with both shoes of a pair of shoes to be measured, adjusting means for said gages, and mechanism to cause said gages to contact simultaneously with said shoes.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, means to support a pair of shoes, movable gages to measure corresponding dimensions of both shoes, and mechanism to 'ause said gages to contact with both shoes at one operation.

6. In an ap iaratus of the character de scribed, means to support a pair of shoes, gages to measure both the lengths of tips and alinements of tip seams in each shoe and nuachanism to actuate said gages to effectsaid measurenrents upon each shoe simultaneously.

7. In a shoe tip measuring apparatus, yielding supporting means for a shoe to be measured and a gage constructed to contact yieldingly with such shoe, said gage being arranged for relative movement toward and away from said supporting means.

8. In a shoe tip measuring apparatus, means to support a plurality of shoes, measuring devices arranged for yielding contactwith said shoes, and mechanism to cause two of said measuring devices to contact with each shoe to be measured at one operation.

9. In a shoe tip measuring apparatus, a table divided for a right and a left shoe to be positioned thereon, adjustable right and left heel plates, adjustable toe tip gages, means connecting said heel plates with said gages whereby operating one actuates the other, and a spring, whereby said plates and gages are arranged to be returned to starting position automatically after a measuring op eration.

V. nected with the cross-head to force it toward 10. In an apparatus of the class described, supports for a pair of shoes, mechanism arranged to indicate the lengths and alineinents of both tips of a pair of shoes, and means for rendering said mechanism' operative arranged to be actuated by downward pressure applied to one shoe.

11. In an apparatus of theclass described, a yielding support for a shoe to be measured, gages to measure the length of the tip and the alinement of the tip seam, and mechanism to render said gages operative actuated by downward pressure upon the heel portion of the shoe.

12. An apparatus of the class described comprising a table to support the forepartof a shoe to be measured, a yielding support for the heel part of the shoe, adjustable gages to indicate measurements on the forepart of the shoe and mechanism to move the gages into operative position actuated by downward pressure upon the yielding heel support.

13. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip seam gage, mountings in which said gage is held normally out of operative position and means arranged to be engaged by the shoe and to effect, by pressure of the shoe applied therethrough, movement of the gage into tip seam measuring position.

14. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip seam gage 4:0, means 10 for sustaining the gage above position for cooperating with the shoe, and an actuator 12 arranged to be operated by downward pressure of the shoe and connected with the gageto. move the gage into cooperative relation to the shoe 'when the shoe presses down upon the actuator.

15. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a support, a tip seam gage movably mounted on the support, means for holding the gage normally out of operative position, and actuating means arranged to be operated, as an incident to the presentation of the shoe, for moving the gage into operative relation to the shoe.

.16. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip seam gage adapted to engage the shoe upper at each lateral side of the shoe'forepart and normally held away from tip gaging position, means for so holding the gage, and means arranged for operation by presentation of the shoe in position to be measured fonmoving both said gages into tip gaging position.

17. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip seam gage comprising a shoe engaging member, a cross-head, a stem sliding in the crosshead and by which said member is suspended; and'an actuator operatively conthe shoe, said sliding stem permitting movement of the cross-head relatively to the shoe engaging member after the latter has contacted with the shoe and while the actuator completes a normal movement unaffected by the thickness of the shoe.

18. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip sition the shoe angularly with relation to the tip seam gaging means, and'means operated by pressure applied through the shoe for moving the seam gage into contact with the toe portion of the shoe.

19. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, tip seam gaging means adapted to indicate the relation of the tip seam to the lastat opposite lateral sides of the shoe and normally held away from operative position, mountings and positioning-means permitting the I gage to be so held, a side gage for the rear part of the shoe, and an actuator arranged for operation by the shoe while the shoe, is positioned against the side gage, said actuator being connected to the seam gaging means to move the latter intooperative relation to the shoe so positioned.

20. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, the combination with a toe end abutment, of a tip seam gage, a shoe gage actuator to move the seam gage by pressure of the shoe, means for reversely moving the seam gage, and a heel side gage on the actuator.

2l. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, the combination with a table, of a gage, a spring normally upholding the gage above the table, and means through which downward pressure of a shoe positioned under the gage will move the gage down upon the shoe.

22. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip seam gagmg means having a definite pore tion to adapt it to indicate the relation of the tip seam to the last at opposite lateral.

sides of a'right shoe, a duplicate means for I the left shoe, and side gages for the inner sides of the rear parts of the right. and left shoes by which to position therear parts of p the rightrand left shoes in like angular relation to them tip gaging means.

23. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip seam gaging means having a definite position to adapt it'to indicate the relation of the tip seam to the last at opposite lateral sides of a right shoe, a duplicate means for the left shoe, side gagesforthe inner sides of the rear parts of the right and left shoes by which. to position the rear parts of the shoes relatively to the tip gaging means, and means by which to efiect equal and opposite adjustments of the side gages.

24. In a shoe tip gaging apparatus, a tip seam gaging means adapted to indicate the relation of the tip seam to the last at opposite lateral sides of a right shoe, a duplicate means for the left shoe, side gages for the In testimony whereof I have signed my 1nne1- sides of the rear parts of the rlght and name to th1s speclfieatlon 1n the presence leitt shoes by WlllOh to posltlon the rear parts of two subscriblng wltnesses.

of the shoes relatively to the tip gaging JOHN H. MEACHAM. means, and means for moving the tip gag- Vitnesses:

ing means into operative relation to the two EIn'rH C. I-Ionnnoon,

shoes simultaneously. JAMES R. Honnnn.

Copies 0t this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C."

ion in Letters Patent No. 1,071,773,

Correct It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,071 ,773, granted September 2,

1913, upon the application of John H. Meacham, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, for

an improvement in Apparatus for Measuring Boots and Shoes, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, lines 107108,

claim 22, for the Word portion read position; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of January, A. D., 1917.

F. W. H. CLAY, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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